Lafayette PD work to bring change to high-crime neighborhoods

Lafayette Police and New Hope Baptist Church are looking to open the doors of communication between themselves and residents in some of the city's roughest neighborhoods.

They held the first community prayer and walk of 2018 going to the neighborhood behind Precinct 4 off of Moss street to meet with residents.

"Getting out and being able to really meet the people that we police in these neighborhoods, in kind of a more one on one level, more personal level, and not just when something bad happens, or we get a call to go into the neighborhood. Them being familiar and knowing that we care even on the good days, not just when something bad is going down," said Officer Karl Ratcliff who walked the streets with other officers, joking with residents.

"To connect with those who have been hired to protect and serve the people of Lafayette and we wanted to connect with them because sometimes there is a disconnection and we wanted to unify that so we can get to know each other on a first name basis and to know that there's an open communication and the precinct here is open for people to just come in, is very important," said Ricky Carter with New Hope Baptist Church.

During Monday night's mission, police and church members handed out flyers with different phone numbers and other city resources available to them.

"We're just out this evening walking and talking to folks, shaking hands," said Officer Ratcliff to a resident at their door. "You know, get to meet y'all introduce ourselves. We don't want the only time y'all see us to be when something bad happens."

"You know, sometimes relationships get strained, particularly in higher crime areas. So we're going into some of those areas. We want to let them know that we care about them, that we're here to listen to their issues, and that we're also here to say hello," said Chief Toby Aguillard who also was knocking on doors to meet the people of the community.

And while the mission took some residents by surprise, they say they appreciate the effort.

"It's a beautiful thing because you see they're human just like us and they want the best for the community and nobody wants crime but crime can happen anywhere and we really need the police," said Gregory Lawrence who lives in the north side of Lafayette.